MCN Fleet

Wednesday 14thAugust. 2931 miles. Chain cleaned, lubed and adjusted. Fresh Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tyres fitted. BMW accessory tank bag and tail pack locked and loaded. I’m ready set-off on the...

It’s a head turner, it’s big, butch and takes me totally outside of my bike-riding comfort zone. It’s been a slow burn but now with 2500 under my belt, I’m a firm fan of the muscular, twin-cylindered...

For the most part, the Indian FTR1200S is great out of the crate but (there’s always a but) the stock Dunlop DT3-R tyres leave a lot of room for improvement. In the dry they’re fine but the savage...

One of my favourite aspects of riding a motorcycle on the road is taking a pillion passenger, and with the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE that couldn’t be easier. A chance to share the journey, as well as...

Time for the Café Racer’s first mod, and it’s an aftermarket Termignoni. The new silencer has been on for the last 500 miles or so and I’m pretty chuffed with the result. As standard the 2019 CR...

Ever since I saw the very first spy shots of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE in MCN back March 2018, I was smitten. It looked like a recipe for pure fun: a 21in front wheel (plenty of good on and...

It would probably have made more sense to fit crash protection to the CBR before I took it to knee down school and my first trackday, but I kept it shiny side up on both days so there’s no harm...

I couldn't wait to get to grips with Suzuki's new Katana and the day after I took ownership, I managed to get 120 or so miles under my belt. My inital impressions were good. It's a comfy, natural...

Published: 15.05.19 at 3273 miles Is the shine beginning to dull after an average year of mileage? The average UK leisure rider barely manages to knock 3500miles together between New Year’s Day and...

There’s no escaping the fact that my ideal world is populated with adventure bikes, off-road riding and big road miles. And the new KTM 790 Adventure R is the bike I’ve been waiting for since I nearly...

The Niken GT could be considered as the second attempt Yamaha have made to answer a question no-one really asked – but that would be doing it a big disservice. When we first put the Niken through its...

After years of riding sportsbikes, I fancied switching gears for 2019. That’s not to say that I’ve not had some eclectic long-term test bikes over recent years – with bikes as diverse as KTM’s RC390...

Update 15: Retracing My Steps It’s been a fun-filled ten months and life won’t be the same now I’ve said goodbye to the Yamaha Tracer 900GT. With my longest solo tour to date, and weekends away with...

Or at least I think it is… Over the last 11 months the £6199 Suzuki SV650X has wormed its way into my heart and I will be sad to see it go back to its true custodians in the coming weeks. With...

One of the real benefits of adventure bikes is that you can lug stuff around easily – whether that’s a load of camping gear to Africa, or the Christmas shop back from Sainsburys. Like most...

Update 9: Ducati V4 S - 8467 miles of V4 heaven Published 9 January 2019 A look back on my year with Ducati's stunner: 626 miles Friday 20th April: collect my V4 S from Ducati UK, Silverstone. Scoot...

It might seem like a fair amount of riding for nine months of movement, but 9612 miles disappear with no effort whatsoever aboard the Ninja H2 SX SE. If I hadn’t been distracted by other two-wheeled...

Over the last six months our Yamaha MT-09SP test bike has been subjected to everything from 900-mile days, to commuting to fast-group trackdays. We wanted to leave you with our final thought on the SP...

Service please! Barely having cocked my leg over the new Honda CB1000R, I find myself riding it off to Honda for its first service, I arrive with 601 miles on the clock, perfect. With the engine...

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special long term test review Sports reporter Oli Rushby is spending the summer with Ducati's Scrambler 1100 Special... as well as a hefty 138-mile round trip commute to our...

What have we learned after 6000 miles on the café-style Kawasaki Z900RS? After trackdays, commutes and even a trip to the TT, MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child reveals all. Read the Kawasaki...

Q Do you miss having adjustable suspension? Johnny Hinds, on email In a way their absence of any damping adjusters is liberating, particularly at trackdays. This is an uncluttered motorcycle with a...

UPDATE 2: Getting Dirty with the F850 GS I have to admit that I’m not really the off road type. Sure I was a dirt bike junkie as a kid but my love for off road dwindled and I’ve become more...

I've had the odd go on an electric bike, but actually owning one, running one day in and day out is a whole different ball game. First of all there's the lack of a clutch, of gears, of engine noise.

MCN Fleet: Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport On route to the TET - let the adventure begin Twelve months ago I met a guy who was on his way back from riding in Spain. He was on a fully loaded CCM...

When I took delivery of Suzuki’s A2-compliant GSX250R last August, I was full of interest. This was the smallest capacity bike I’d ridden since the unreliable (but beautiful) Aprilia RS50 I had at...

An email from MCN reader Jim Scott struck up the thought about the Yamaha XMAX 400’s seat height, something I never took a second look at before. Perhaps because I’ve ridden a few bikes now which I...

The term ‘Man maths’ refers to using semi-rational reasons, rather than the actual figures, to justify  your purchase. It’s an expression I use at home all-to-often. For example, last year I...

It’s an age since I first set eyes on the Honda X-ADV. Like all good love affairs I remember the exact moment in time, the MCN Show in London last year is etched on my mind for eternity. A three-month...

From my previous update, you’ll know I can fit three bags full of food under the seat of the XMAX. Now I was going to France for a weekend, could the 33bhp scoot hack going aboard? And be comfortable?...

I love the D940, it hugs the coast from Calais to Le Touquet, the undulating sweepers and fabulous final destination make it my obvious choice for a winter weekender. I’m sure a 500 mile trip in near...

The Rider’s View I’ve been riding for 13 years and whenever asked to take a pillion I’ve always dodged the bullet. The great ‘what if’ makes me twitchy and someone else’s safety being in my hands...

I’m proud to be an all-year-round rider. Britain’s winter might throw crappy weather, greasy roads and that lovely salt-laden sludge that seems to get just about everywhere at us, but there is still...

You may remember I was considering winterising the XMAX. You know the sort of thing: looking at different tyres, extended screens and hand guards, keeping on top of the grime... In truth, however –...

After two blown bulbs in 5450 miles and a two-week trip back to Suzuki to try and diagnose the problem during its 6000-mile service interval, it looked as if the GSX250R’s electrical woes had finally...

Winter hack or garage ornament?   I have been guilty of being a fair weather rider I must admit so it’s time to man up and brave the elements. Chances are most naked sporty numbers are left...